Page 55 - NAKS MAC 2026 EBook

Today, the world is very different, and teenagers in the 21st century do not view
patriotism the same way their ancestors did. In the United States, patriotism has become
much more complicated and critical. According to recent data from Gallup polls, national
pride among young Americans has dropped to very low levels. However, lower national pride
does not mean that young Americans have stopped caring about their country. Young
Americans today do not think that loving your country means saying it is perfect. Instead,
they practice something called "reflective patriotism." They look at America’s history and
current events with a critical eye. For Gen Z and young adults, a real patriot is sometimes
seen as someone who speaks up to fix America's flaws so that the country can finally live up
to its original promise of "liberty and justice for all."

In South Korea, modern patriotism has also gone through a massive transformation.
Korea is no longer a poor, ruined-by-war country trying to survive. It is now one of the
countries that has a strong global cultural influence and advanced technology. Because of
this, some young Koreans express national pride through Korea's global cultural influence.
Today's youth do not necessarily connect their patriotism to military power or old political
ideas. Instead, they feel proud when people all around the world see K-pop groups
performing, when Korean movies win international awards like Oscars, such as Parasite, or
when people around the world learn the Korean language and eat Korean food. Young
Koreans also value their personal happiness. Some believe that in order to make a nation a
better place, individuals have to feel happy first.

Ultimately, patriotism is a living concept that evolves with the people of a country. The
brave soldiers of the American Revolution and the peaceful protestors of Korea's March
First Movement played important roles in their countries' struggles for independence. Due
to those sacrifices, students today have a safe, free life. Because the act of showing
patriotism has changed, it does not mean that young people do not appreciate those
sacrifices. In America they celebrate the 4th of July, and in Korea they celebrate August
15th. Both dates are connected to their countries' independence. Patriotism nowadays is
not about sacrificing myself but more about using one's voice to make society a better,
kinder, and more creative place for everyone.

55